FROM PRESS RELEASE
CLEARWATER, Florida – No. 6 South Florida jumped out to an early lead on the way to a 7-2 win over No. 3 Wichita State in the fourth game of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tuesday, May 25 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
South Florida (25-26) chased Wichita State starter Liam Eddy (5-8) in the first inning after Matt Ruiz doubled to score Jake Sullivan and Nelson Rivera singled to plate Ruiz with two outs and give the Bulls an early 3-0 lead.
Collin Sullivan (3-3) tossed 5.2 innings in the win for the Bulls, striking out seven with three hits and two runs allowed. Logan Lyle pitched the final 3.1 innings without giving up a run to earn his fourth save.
With the win, South Florida faces No. 2 Tulane on Thursday, May 27, while Wichita State (30-22) will play No. 7 Houston on Wednesday, May 26. Both games will take place 47 minutes after the first games each day, which begin at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
Roberto Pena hit a monstrous two-run home run to right to give South Florida a 5-0 lead in the second.
Wichita State began to chip away at the lead as Couper Cornblum scored on a groundout in the third and provided a sacrifice fly that scored Corrigan Bartlett in the fifth to cut the USF lead to 5-2, but that was as close as the Shockers would be.
The Bulls added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth when Jarrett Eaton scored on a sac fly by Carmine Lane and Daniel Cantu followed with a deep solo home run to right.
Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 25 | ESPN+
Game 1: No. 5 UCF 14, No. 4 Cincinnati 10
Game 2: No. 8 Memphis 11, No. 1 East Carolina 1 (7 innings)
Game 3: No. 2 Tulane 4, No. 7 Houston 1
Game 4: No. 6 South Florida 7, No. 3 Wichita State 2
Wednesday, May 26 | ESPN+
Game 5: No. 4 Cincinnati vs. No. 1 East Carolina | 3 p.m.
Game 6: No. 7 Houston vs. No. 3 Wichita State | 47 minutes following Game 5
Thursday, May 27 | ESPN+
Game 7: No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 5 UCF | 3 p.m.
Game 8: No. 6 South Florida vs. No. 2 Tulane | 47 minutes following Game 7
Friday, May 28 | ESPN+
Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m.
Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8 | 47 minutes following Game 9
Saturday, May 29 | ESPN+
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m.
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes following Game 11
Game 13 (if necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD
Game 14 (if necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD
Sunday, May 30 | ESPNews
Game 15: Semifinal winners | Noon
